Kyle Larson dominated Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway, securing his second consecutive win at the track.
Larson, driving his No. 5 car for Hendrick Motorsports, started from the pole position and led 221 of the 267 laps, winning both stages and securing his third victory of the season in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Unlike last year’s victory, Larson did not need a close finish, outpacing Christopher Bell, who finished in second place.
I’m glad I didn’t win by an inch this time. A slightly safer margin.
Kyle Larson
Larson, with previous wins at Homestead and Bristol, has maintained a consistent performance, finishing in the top four in his last four races. Now, he brings this momentum to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
On Tuesday, Larson will begin his attempt at “the Double,” participating in the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same Memorial Day weekend.
Despite leading much of the race, Larson briefly found himself behind Chase Elliott in the final stage. However, a mistake by Elliott’s team during a pit stop allowed Larson to regain the lead, holding it until the checkered flag.
Bell, with three wins this season, achieved his sixth top three. Ryan Blaney finished third, adding another good result for Team Penske.
I was just trying to get to the end. I know Ryan was coming on really strong.
Christopher Bell
Chase Briscoe and Alex Bowman rounded out the top five.
Brad Keselowski, who seemed headed for his first top 10 of the season, suffered a setback when his right rear tire failed, ending his aspirations.
It was going to be a great day. I heard a loud bang and everything went away.
Brad Keselowski
Denny Hamlin also faced clutch issues, which affected his performance.
Very fast again. I just can’t keep it together right now.
Denny Hamlin
The next race will be the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro, where Joey Logano is the defending champion. There will be changes to the format this year, including an optional promoter caution flag, which could significantly modify the 250-lap race.
